Ask The Crusader!

Michael King...THE HOME IMPROVEMENT CRUSADER!

Cracks in Wood Floor Require New Boards

Question
My husband redid our floors with white pine about five years ago. There are now noticeable cracks in the wood and the staircase, which he also replaced. Is this normal? He put down four coats of polyurethane.

Answer
Yes, it is normal under certain circumstances. If the cracks are in the wood itself, they occurred because the boards were green, or full of moisture when nailed in place. Then when the boards dried, they contracted, causing the cracks.
If the cracks are between the boards the same thing happened. The boards contracted causing gaps.

All you can do about the cracks in the wood, is lay new and narrower, preferably hardwood that are tongued and grooved, and lay them in winter, when they are at their smallest. As for the gaps between the boards, if they are ¼ inch or wider, you can put in filler strips of wood. Nothing else will work.

Question
We have a screened porch with four columns, one of which is showing rot at the base. What can we do?

Answer
If the decay is not too deep or widespread, dig out the soft parts, douse the base with bleach, rinse and let dry. Then, treat with Minwax’s wood hardener, fill with Minwax’s wood rot filler and repaint.

If the decay area is too far gone, you can shore up the porch roof on each side of the culprit column with temporary posts and cut of the decayed base. Then, put in a new base of pressure treated wood.

Question
I am having a new vinyl floor put down in my kitchen which already has two layers of flooring. The top layer contains asbestos, and it is curling at the edges. A third layer will bring the floor too high, and may interfere with the under-the-counter dishwasher. What should I do?

Answer
You can put a new layer over the two old ones, even though one has asbestos in it. Nail down the curled edges first. If a third layer makes the floor too high for the dishwasher, end it just in front of the dishwasher.

If you choose to remove the two existing floors, the asbestos layer must be done by a professional asbestos stripper at great expense.

Question
I am getting leaks through my newly installed steel door, mostly at the bottom, along the aluminum threshold, and between the side of the door and the frame. What is wrong and how can I fix it?

Answer
It sounds like it was poorly installed. Such doors have rubber-like gaskets as weather stripping, which should make the sides watertight. If the door swings into the house, the seal should be complete. If it swings out, the seal is hard to secure. If you installed yourself, find a professional to remount it.

For the leak under the door, you could install a threshold, often called a sweep, with a vinyl flap. Also available are movable sweeps, which flip down when the door is closed and flip up when it is open. Or you can install a storm door.

Question
My double-wide concrete driveway was hot-topped with asphalt 20 years ago and is still in good shape. I plan to cover the hot top with brick, all mortared in. Is that acceptable?

Answer
I think it is, but you want to make sure the bricks are hard enough not to disintegrate under the weight of your automobile. Also, make sure the bricks and mortar are watertight. If water gets under the bricks, it can damage the bricks and mortar especially if it freezes. You can prevent this by drilling holes through the asphalt and the concrete to allow water drainage. Lots of holes.

Another way is less expensive and less labor-intensive: Drill the holes, then put the bricks in dry and touching each other without mortar. Be sure to install a border of some kind, timers or concrete blocks, to prevent the loose, unmortared bricks from moving.

Question
My Corian kitchen countertop is badly stained and I can’t get them out. Any suggestions?

Answer
Try fine sandpaper to sand off the stain, which, it is hoped, is not too deep. Or use emery cloth, which is fine and very tough; sandpaper may disintegrate.

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